Carriers for braiding machines



May 30, 1961 B. CARTER CARRIERS FOR BRAIDING MACHINES 30 Filed Nov. 10, 1959 3 la 1 v a 5 u n 3 n n in", 1 1:1 1 g u 7 h 3 0 1 3 mzm I4 a d all-w 0 o d m m F 5 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 n n 1 8 2 a "M m 8 2 2 2 2 3 1 3 1 J I I l I I I I I All l |||||I|||||| j 1 L 9 U h 1 0 n w W 1 2 2 631 I4 5 7 21313 4| 2 2 m Hap;

- INVENTOR B en 6 a r ler- ATTORNEYS United States Patent CARRIERS FOR BRAIDING MACHINES Ben Carter, Blackpool, England, assignor to B. & F. Carter & Company Limited, Bolton, England, a British company Filed Nov. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 852,065

6 Claims. (CI. 87-56) This invention relates to carriers for braiding'and like machines, which comprises a rotatable spindle-like holder for a bobbin or cop of yarn or filament and a back stem carrying let-off motion, and yarn or filament tensioning and guiding means controlling such let-01f motion. The expression yarn or filament is used above and hereinafter to include any thread-like assembly of staple fibres or single or multiple filaments of any suitable material whether of textile fibres or filaments or of metal or other material not generally classified as textile. I

The invention is particularly, though not exclusively,

the range of use of such machines and such developments call for simple, quick and easy means for changing the tensioning means for lighter or heavier tension according to the bobbin material being used and the type of work as well as involving braiding about a relatively horizontal or inclined axis compared with the vertical axis of early braiding machines.

Both of the aforesaid requirements entail constructional problems and the object of the present invention is a carrier of simple and improved construction.

According to the present invention, a carrier for a braiding or like machine of the kind referred to is characterised by a detachable unit assembly head for the back stem including a captive clamping plate and integral or permanently attached abutment for the spring of the tensioning means so constructed and arranged that removal of such assembly head as a unit assembly enables the spring to be changed for altering the tension and fa cilitates such operation for change of tension.

The carrier aforesaid may be further characterised in that the clamping means of the unit assembly comprises a single clamping screw so constructed as to be captive and to secure the clamping plate to the main part of the unit assembly; or further characterised in that the unit assembly includes a quick releasable top clip engageable with the outer end of the holder for the cop or bobbin to restrain axial displacement on the carrier.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of one example of a carrier made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the upper end of the back stem of the carrier shown in Figs. 1 to 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views in side and front elevation of the head assembly.

As shown in the drawing, the carrier comprises a base 10 suitably shaped to run in the track of a braiding machine. Upstanding from the base is a back stem 11 of flat cross section and a stationary spindle 12 on which body part.

2,986,061 Patented May; 30,

"ice

is rotatably mounted a spindle-like holder 13 (as do the ratchet 14 aforesaid. At the other end of the lever 15 is pivotally mounted an actuating rod 17 with extension 17a, the rod 17 being formed with a projection 18 and having its upper end slidably mounted in a guide 19. On the rod extension 17a is a return spring 20, the

lower end of which has a few closely wound coils 20a adapted to grip the rod so as to hold the spring captive against accidental displacement from the rod during manipulation as explained later.

On the back stem 11 is a tensioning spring,21, the upper turns 21a of which are closely wound to grip frictionally on the stem sufficiently to prevent accidental displacement, but not sufliciently to prevent sliding upon compression of the spring from pressure applied to the other end of the spring. On the back stem 11 and abut,- ting the said other end of the tensioning spring 21 is a wing-shaped slide 22 which is adapted to engage the projection 18 aforesaid. On the slide is a guide pulley 22a as the carrier is adapted for use with wire.

. The outer end of'the back stem 11 is slotted at and on the upper end of such stem is a unit assembly head consisting of a body part 23, clamping plate 24 and clamping bolt 25 engaging a nut 26 welded to the To the inner end of the bolt 25 is welded a disc 27 making the bolt and clamping plate captive to the body part. The body part 23 has an extension 28 with guide eye 29 and pivot tube 30 in which latter is pivotally mounted a clip-like frame 31 carrying a bushlike cap 32 adapted to fit over the end of the spindle 12 and pivotally located on the end of the frame. Stops 28a are provided on a turned down end of theextension 28 to limit the backward swing movement of the frame 31. On the body part are also notched Wing-like cams 33 adapted to be engaged by the clip-like frame to locate such frame in its working position. The body part of the assembly head includes an extension 34 to which is permanently attached a guide hook 35 for the thread of filament and a guide bush 19 aforesaid for the actuating rod 17a.

In operation, the let-otf motion operates in known manner by the action of the thread or filament around the pulley 22a, pulling the slide 22 along the rod 11 against the resistance of the spring 21 until the slide engages the projection -18 causing the catch 15 to tilt until its end 16 disengages from one of the teeth of the ratchet '14. The bobbin holder 13 is then momentarily free to rotate and the resultant release of the thread or filament allows the slide 22 to move away from the projection 18 allowing the pawl 16 to re-engage and prevent further rotation of the bobbin holder .13. In between such let-oil movements, the spring 21 tensions the thread or filament between the carrier and the work.

For changing a bobbin, to replace an empty or nearly empty one with a new bobbin, the cap 32 can be lifted and turned back to rest against the stops 28a or to hang free according to the working position of the carrier.

The bobbin holder then can be slipped off its spindle,

on the end of the spindle and ensuring that the ratchet 14 of the bobbin holder in always properly positioned on its spindle relative to the pawl 16.

Different work or different kinds, gauge or numbers of p v threads or filaments may call for difierent tensions and this necessitates the changing of the tensioning spring 21. This is afiected by loosening the bolt 25 whereupon the assembly head can be removed from the end of the back stem 11 as a complete assembly, no part of which can become separated and lost. The spring 21 may thenbe pulled off the stem against the light grip of the coils 21a and a new spring fitted, selected for the required strength. The assembly head may then be replaced on the end of the stem and the bolt 25 tightened to hold it firmly in position.

The invention is obviously not limited to all the details of construction above described insofar as they may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, different captive means than the single bolt 25 could be used for quick and easy securing or release of the head assembly; and means other than the spring frame 31 and cap 32 and-cams 33 may be used for holding the bobbin carrier in its intended working position on the stem.

I claim:

1. A carrier for a braiding or like machine of the kind referred to and having a back stem, characterised by a detachable unit assembly head for the back stem including a captive clamping plate, tensioning means, a spring secured to said tensioning means, a integral or permanently attached abutment for the spring of the tensioning means so constructed and arranged that removal of such assembly head as a unit enables the spring to be changed for altering the tension and facilitates such operation for change of tension.

2. A carrier as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that the clamping plate for the unit assembly head comprises a single clamping screw so constructed as to be captive and secure the clamping plate to the main part of the unit assembly head.

3. A carrier as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that the unit assembly head includes a quick releasable top-clip engageable with the outer end of a holder for a cop or bobbin to restrain axial displacement on the carrier.

4. A carrier for a braiding or like machine of the kind referred to and having a back stem, characterised by a detachable unit assembly head for the back stem including a captive clamping plate, tensioning means, a spring secured to said tensioning means, an integral or permanently attached abutment for the spring of the tensioning means so constructed and arranged that removal of such assembly head as a unit enables the spring to be changed for altering the tension and facilitates such operation for change of tension, the clamping plate for the unit assembly head comprising a single clamping screw so constructed as to be captive and secure the clamping plate to the main part of the unit assembly head, the unit assembly head including a quick-releasable top-clip engageable with the outer end of a holder for a cop or bobbin to restrain axial displacement on the carrier.

5. A carrier as claimed in claim 4 further characterised in thatsaid top-clip is provided with location means thus to maintain same in an operative position.

6. A carrier for abraiding or like machine of the kind referred to and having a back stem, characterised by a detachable unit assembly head for the back stem including a captive clamping plate, tensioning means, a spring secured to said tensioning means, an integral or permanently attached abutment for the spring of the tensioning means so constructed and arranged that removal of such assembly head as a unit enables the spring to be changed for altering the tension and facilitates such operation for change of tension, a holder for a cop or bobbin, the unit assembly head including a quick releasable top-clip engageable with the outer end of the holder for the cop or bobbin to restrain axial displacement on the carrier, the top-clip being provided with location means thus to maintain same in an operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

